Indiana lawmakers to weigh in on industrial hemp crops

A bill in the Indiana Legislature would declassify industrial hemp as marijuana.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Hemp plants could start appearing in Indiana fields if a state Senate bill to allow growing the crop gains support from lawmakers.

The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will discuss the bill Friday afternoon. Indiana would need to apply for a federal permit to grow the crop that’s used to make paper, clothing and building materials.

Hemp is similar to marijuana but has a much smaller amount of the latter’s psychoactive compound.

The bill also would declassify industrial hemp as marijuana in Indiana.